600 teachers apply for 116 new mentor/peer jobs

The Hillsborough County school district has received more than 600 applications for teacher mentor and peer positions, key pieces in launching reforms funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"We still have a couple of hours left and we're up to 606," David Steele, the district's information and technology chief, said today before the 4 p.m. deadline. "It's an amazing level of interest.''

That's almost 400 more applications than Superintendent MaryEllen Elia reported two weeks ago when she announced the deadline had been extended another week.

The district plans to hire about 116 mentors and evaluators before the end of the school year. Interviews will begin after this spring's round of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for students, which ends March 19.

Teachers accepted into the mentor and peer program will leave the classroom for two to three years to focus on teacher training and evaluations.

Mentors will attend a 15-day summer workshop and three-day orientation. They'll oversee about 15 first-year teachers, observing them in the classroom and meeting with them on a weekly basis to assist with lesson plans, tests and other work.

Peer evaluators will attend two-day summer training. They will monitor more experienced teachers, observing some 18 classrooms each week and meeting with teachers three to four times a year, as well, Steele said.

Those accepted for the mentor-peer positions will receive a $5,000 supplement in addition to their annual regular pay.

Applicants who don't work for the district now will receive the same supplement plus a teacher's regular 10-month salary based on experience.

Qualifications include a master's degree or national board certification, five years of successful teaching experience and demonstrated ability to raise student achievement.

Mentors and evaluators are part of the district's seven-year, $200 million plan to overhaul education and increase student achievement. The plan is financed in part by a $100 million grant from the Gates foundation with the district contributing the rest.